ESCAPE FROM PRISON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27139, 8 September 1953, Page 6

ESCAPE FROM PRISON

COURT TOLD OF REASON (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 7. “I escaped from Waikeria prison knowing that when I was caught 1 would not be sent back there,” said Hugh Huturoa Davis, aged 21, a labourer, in the Magistrate’s Court today. “I knew I would be sent to another. “In three or four months at Waikeria I got 12 days’ solitary confinement and only one ounce of tobacco while there,” he said. “For two months also I was on half rations. I am not saying I did not deserve it, but had I been in another prison I would not have got into so much trouble.” Davis was appearing for sentence with Kenneth Allan Davy, aged 22, a labourer, on six joint charges of breaking, entering and theft, two joint charges of theft, three joint charges of car conversion, and individual charges of theft and of having been incorrigible rogues by escaping from prison. Mr M. B. Scully, S.M., sentenced them for “an absolute spate” of crime between the time of their escape on August 14 and their capture in Wellington eight days later. He sentenced them to three years’ imprisonment on each of two breaking, entering and theft offences at Otorohanga and Otaki and to a year’s imprisonment for having escaped from prison. He convicted and discharged them on all the other offences. The sentences are to be served concurrently.